This is the print cover and also the new face of the e-book. It's very 60's, GoGo. psychedelic, wouldn't you say? I love it, and mostly, I am just relieved that the process is moving forward. When I thought about novel writing, I imagined the Jack Kerouac method. I thought I'd stay up for five days of furious writing, send the manuscript off into the universe and become reluctantly famous, a' la Kerouac! Jack couldn't have hacked it in the indie publishing world. After the days of researching until your vision is blurry, months of writing even when the muse is not with you, and the seemingly endless process of editing and editing and editing and editing, you have a manuscript. And that's when you really have to roll up your sleeves. Covers, formatting, proofing. The physical (and virtual) part of creating a book is challenging, but the real work comes in learning to promote your book. You have to be your own graphic designer, ad company, agent, marketing team, pr person, and secretary. It would be easier to get a medical degree than to publish and campaign your own book. Kerouac would have packed away the typewriter and headed for electrician school. The self-publishing game is only for the most determined and diligent among us. Chutzpah. That's the word I'm looking for. You have to have chutzpah.

I like being hands on and learning news skills (sounds like I'd be perfect for electrician school) so I'm in heaven. For years, I've thought about going into some field of public relations. Building people up, celebrating them - I flipping love that! I just didn't know that the person I'd be representing would be me. (To tell you the truth my client is kind of hard to work with. A bit of a diva.)

Since Kerouac isn't around for me to take on as a client, I'd be happy to help any of you indie-publishing authors or someday-writers with whatever I can. E-mail me if you need suggestions, encouragement, ideas or just want to vent about the book industry. (And if you want to sing my praises, I never get tired of praises!) I know publishing a hard game to play, and we human beings have to stick together!